Timeline of Donald Duck's army service

[Daniel Maline]

Note that in some cases the timeline is purely speculative!

I tried to gather as complete a picture as possible of what Donald Duck did during WWII while he serving in the U.S. army.

So...

1. Early 1941

A radio announcer show Donald how to properly fill out his simplified Form 1040 A (Individual Income Tax Return Form) because war is near. - The New Spirit

Donald announces that the triplet boys have been now adopted (and the last time when we heard about their mother was in 1938). - The New Spirit

2. March 24.1941

Donald reports to his local draft board after receiving a draft notices. He gets drafted and joined the Air Force. - Donald Gets Drafted

Donald meets Black Pete who is his trainer and drill sergeant in the military. - Donald Gets Drafted

3. Later in 1941?

One night Donald tries to escape from training camp, but Pete catches him. - The Old Army Game

Donald’s asks to chance to fly so Pete accepts him into the parachute troops. - Sky Trooper

A sad accident at the General's headquarters. - Sky Trooper

4. Maybe 1942?

Donald paints himself invisible, causing that Pete to be sent to jail (the first time?) because he detonated their general. - The Vanishing Private

When Pete is no longer involved, Donald takes part in field exercises that include marching and camping. - Fall Out Fall In

Donald Duck takes part in the first propaganda film which encourages purchasing war savings certificates. - Donald's Decision


7. 1943

Donald Duck takes part in the second propaganda film which campaign more war effort for the U.S. army. - The Spirit of '43

Donald Duck and his nephews, Huey, Dewey, and Louie, are serving as civilian aircraft spotters on the West Coast of the United States. - Home Defense

6. 1944?

Donald is now part of the commando forces and the Air Force sends him into the middle of the jungle for secret operaation. - Commando Duck

Donald literally washed out the enemy's airport off the map and reported, "Contacted enemy, washed out same". - Commando Duck

7. Aftermath

After the war and his experiences, Donald has symptoms of PTSD that manifest/showing as nightmares and sleepwalking. - Der Fuehrer’s Face (- Icebox Robber)

In 1984 the U.S. Army retired Donald Duck from active duty as a rank of Buck Sergeant (Senior airman). - Donald's 50th Birthday celebrations during the 25th Annual Torrance, California Armed Forces Day Parade

_ _ _

And please and comment if I have missed something important or made some errors.

[Matilda]

Is it not the case that a single parent of three young children would not have been drafted? So if you want to fit cartoon-soldier-Donald into one timeline with comics-Donald (and cartoon-parent-Donald), you perhaps have to imagine Donald adopting the boys post-war.

[Daniel Maline]

Jun 30, 2021 15:50:14 GMT Matilda said:

Is it not the case that a single parent of three young children would not have been drafted? So if you want to fit cartoon-soldier-Donald into one timeline with comics-Donald (and cartoon-parent-Donald), you perhaps have to imagine Donald adopting the boys post-war.

The short film episode "New Spirit", which claims that the boys were adopted by Donald, took its place in 1941 (before war). As we can see from Donald’s tax form paper (Form 1040 A).

And in the later episode "Home Defence", we’ll see when the boys help their Uncle Donald at local air defense as civilian aircraft spotters.

So the boys are with Donald and in his care already during the WWII.

[Matilda]

Jun 30, 2021 18:56:08 GMT Daniel Maline said:

Jun 30, 2021 15:50:14 GMT Matilda said:

Is it not the case that a single parent of three young children would not have been drafted? So if you want to fit cartoon-soldier-Donald into one timeline with comics-Donald (and cartoon-parent-Donald), you perhaps have to imagine Donald adopting the boys post-war.

The short film episode "New Spirit", which claims that the boys were adopted by Donald, took its place in 1941 (before war). As we can see from Donald’s tax form paper (Form 1040 A).

And in the later episode "Home Defence", we’ll see when the boys help their Uncle Donald at local air defense as civilian aircraft spotters.

So the boys are with Donald and in his care already during the WWII.

Yes, I'm aware that you got all this from the films/cartoons. I'm saying that the two "facts" don't fit together into one coherent story. I don't believe a single father of young children would have been drafted. Of course, HDL don't appear in the cartoons where Donald is drafted.